Oregon Cattleman: Oregon Cattlemen's Association Magazine, History, Content and People
Profile updated November 2026
Oregon Cattleman magazine is the official publication of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association (OCA), the Salem-based group founded by 12 ranchers in Baker County in 1913. Published ten times a year and included with membership, it carries the association's legislative and public lands updates, producer features and news from county associations across a state where ranching ranges from the high desert to the Willamette Valley.
| Publisher | Oregon Cattlemen's Association (OCA) |
|---|---|
| Association founded | 1913, Baker County |
| Headquarters | 1320 Capitol Street NE, Salem |
| Frequency | Ten issues a year, with combined April/May and July/August issues |
| ISSN | 2574-8785 |
| Membership | More than 1,800 grassroots members |
| Official website | Oregon Cattleman on Issuu |
History of Oregon Cattleman
Twelve people in Baker County formed the Oregon Cattlemen's Association in 1913 to advance the economic, political and social interests of Oregon's cattle industry. That year Woodard Wilson served as president, calves sold for $8.50 a hundredweight and corn cost 88 cents a bushel. The association celebrated its centennial in Baker City in June 2013 with cowboy poet Baxter Black among the performers.
The current magazine carries the ISSN 2574-8785 and was in its fourth volume in 2020. That year it was produced for the association by Robyn H. Smith of Checkmate Communications as publisher and managing editor, with advertising handled by H and P Company.
Oregon Cattleman Today
Oregon Cattleman goes to OCA members and affiliates, and the subscription is included in membership dues. The April/May 2020 issue shows the mix: opinion pieces, a survey on cattlemen and COVID-19, an explainer on the CARES Act, a proposal on association funding and a feature on adaptive grazing, alongside messages from the president and executive director.
Recent association news has centered on wildfire. After the 2024 wildfires, the OCA, then led by president Matt McElligott, launched a recovery fund and continued accepting donations into 2026. The association held its 2025 annual convention December 4 to 6 at the Pendleton Convention Center and has worked on tax relief, farm bill priorities, a bill on lay pregnancy checking amid a rural veterinarian shortage, and funding for the AgriStress Helpline.
What Oregon Cattleman Is Publishing Now
Legislative and public lands updates
Reports from Salem and Washington on grazing, water, wildlife, wildfire and tax policy.
Association voices
Columns from the OCA president and executive director, the Oregon Beef Council and the CattleWomen.
Members and counties
County president and committee chair reports, new members, classifieds and ranch features.
Oregon Cattleman Editors and Staff
The 2020 masthead and recent coverage name:
- Robyn H. Smith - Publisher and Managing Editor, Checkmate Communications (2020 masthead)
- Matt McElligott - OCA President (2024)
- Woodard Wilson - OCA President in 1913
The association's general address is oca@orcattle.com.
Who Reads Oregon Cattleman
Readers are cow-calf ranchers, stocker operators and allied businesses across Oregon. Oregon State University Extension lists the OCA among the state's producer organizations and works with ranchers on range and herd management, and USDA NASS data give the official count of Oregon's herd.
Oregon ranchers who survived a centennial party with Baxter Black know that cowboy humor is a serious tradition. farm.FM carries it on with farm satire, farm humor and ranch humor for high desert and valley readers alike. Its farm jokes would have earned at least a chuckle in Baker City.
If the name is new to you, farm.FM is the nation's first satirical farm site, with Tractor Tunes country music for farmers on the side. One of its regular writers keeps a whole archive of stories like that.
Oregon Cattleman Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Oregon Cattleman: April/May 2020 - masthead, frequency and content.
- Oregon State University Extension: Oregon Cattlemen's Association - the 1913 founding and mission.
- Ag Information Network: OCA celebrates 100 years - the 2013 centennial.
- PNW Ag Network: Oregon Cattlemen's Association - recent wildfire and policy news.
- USDA NASS Quick Stats - Oregon cattle inventory statistics.
Oregon Cattleman FAQ
Who publishes Oregon Cattleman magazine?
It is the official publication of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association in Salem.
How often is Oregon Cattleman published?
Ten times a year, with combined April/May and July/August issues.
When was the Oregon Cattlemen's Association founded?
In 1913, by 12 people in Baker County.
Is the magazine included with membership?
Yes. The subscription is included in OCA membership dues.
More than a century after its Baker County start, the association still speaks to Oregon ranchers through Oregon Cattleman magazine.